Two sheriff’s deputies remained hospitalized Thursday with wounds suffered in a gun battle that left a suspect dead in an East Los Angeles park, while investigators continued piecing together the circumstances that led to the shooting.
The shooting occurred about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday at Ruben F. Salazar Park, 3864 Whittier Blvd., said Deputy Marvin Crowder of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s officials said deputies from the East Los Angeles Station responded to a report that someone in a dark-colored vehicle had pointed a gun at a person near Sixth Street and Bonnie Beach Place, allegedly after asking the victim about gang affiliation. The victim called 911 and reported an assault with a deadly weapon.
Deputies responding to the scene spotted a vehicle matching the description given by the caller and followed it until the driver stopped near a baseball field at Salazar Park. At least one suspect got out of the car and opened fire on approaching deputies, officials said.
Two deputies were struck with gunfire, with one shot in the jaw and one struck in a shoulder, according to sheriff’s Lt. Scott Hoglund. Both deputies managed to return fire, as did two other deputies who were at the scene, Hoglund told KNX Newsradio.
One suspect was killed at the scene and another was wounded and taken to a hospital in unknown condition. A third suspect was arrested at the scene of the shooting.
A witness told KNX she heard anywhere from 20 to 30 shots fired.
Deputies took their wounded colleagues to Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center in patrol cars. They were listed in serious but stable condition, but were expected to survive, authorities said.
“We’re very fortunate that they’re in serious but stable condition,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said outside the hospital Wednesday night. “This could have ended up very differently. Both are seasoned deputies with over 10 years on the job.”
McDonnell said he met with relatives of the wounded deputies at the hospital.
McDonnell asked anyone with information about the shooting to talk with detectives.
“If people do not come forward, then that empowers people who are willing to do these kinds of acts of senseless violence to continue to do those,” McDonnell said.
The investigation was continuing at the park Thursday morning, with the dead suspect’s body still at the scene.
McDonnell expressed his thanks to other members of law enforcement for their support.
“LAPD reached out right away to see if they could be helpful,” McDonnell said. “The way the situation played out we’re good at this point, but we certainly appreciate the thoughts and the prayers and the reach-out that we’ve gotten from so many.”
Sheriff’s homicide detectives asked anyone with any information regarding the incident to call them at (323) 890-5500.